Five members of two international drug syndicates have been sentenced to a total of 21 years in prison following their arrest by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over attempts to export cocaine, tramadol and cannabis through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
According to the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the convicts were linked to the interception of 68.9 kilograms of illicit substances destined for Australia and Gabon.
Three cartel leaders — Olasupo Michael Oladimeji, Muaezee Ademola Ogunbiyi, and Sola Adegoke — were arrested after NDLEA operatives seized 17.9kg of cocaine concealed in textile materials and charms at the MMIA export shed on 26 August 2025. A follow-up search led to the discovery of 20.5kg of Canadian Loud at Ogunbiyi’s residence in Lekki and the recovery of a Range Rover SUV marked RBC 459 EJ from Adegoke’s home in Ikeja GRA.
They were arraigned before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos on 30 October 2025. After pleading guilty to five charges, they were sentenced on 31 October to five years imprisonment each without an option of fine, totalling 15 years. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the seized Range Rover and an additional Toyota Venza to the Federal Government.
In a similar case, Obunike Joseph Obichukwu and Uzorchukwu Godspower Chukwurah were arrested on 19 July 2025 over the attempted export of 2.6kg of cocaine and 27.9kg of tramadol concealed in motor spare parts on a flight to Gabon.
The duo pleaded guilty before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on 4 November and were convicted on six counts. They each received three years imprisonment, with an option of ₦2 million fine in lieu of jail. Additionally, ₦4 million allegedly offered as a bribe to NDLEA personnel by Obunike was ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
Babafemi noted that the convictions reinforce NDLEA’s sustained crackdown on drug trafficking networks operating through Nigeria’s major gateways.